Bears Get Mixed Results In Confidence Game

August 06, 1993|By Fred Mitchell.

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — The confidence game is an ongoing challenge for any professional athlete, particularly in the National Football League, where calculating opponents feast on any real or perceived weakness.

As the Bears prepare to launch their preseason schedule Sunday night in Philadelphia, the manner in which players handle the pressure to perform could well determine their fate.

"When you have success, you have more confidence," said backup quarterback Peter Tom Willis.

"I know what I am capable of doing, and things are looking pretty good for me right now," said backup fullback Bob Christian from Northwestern. "I know we have a long way to go in training camp, but I have confidence in myself."

Finding confidence and success in the NFL has been a difficult task for many players.

Stan Thomas, a third-year tackle who was a first-round pick out of Texas, admittedly could use a confidence transfusion right now. Demoted to third team, Thomas fears for his roster spot.

"He can't let the circumstances affect how he is doing, or it will hurt his chances of making the team or making it anywhere," said coach Dave Wannstedt.

Thomas sat out Thursday's practice with a sore toe.

"If he is going to win a job, I don't care what he says in the paper about his feelings or the coaching staff," said offensive line coach Tony Wise.

"If he is healthy, he will play equally in the game Sunday. And we want him to play well, because we want him to be a good player. He has had every single opportunity in drills, contact, team periods, whatever."

Thomas was arrested for drunken driving in Schaumburg a day before training camp opened in Lake Forest July 15. Wannstedt excused him for the first three days of non-contact drills "for personal reasons," and Thomas reportedly attended alcohol awareness sessions.

Thomas started the first seven games of his 1991 rookie year at left tackle, then injured his ankle and was plagued by penalties the rest of the year. Last season, he was a reserve at right tackle and right guard.

Wise dismisses the theory athletes are overly sensitive to criticism and have delicate egos.

"They are not all like that " said Wise. "John Wojciechowski has a very limited ego. Keith Van Horne, Jay Leeuwenburg, Jerry Fontenot, too.

"Stan is fully capable. But he must play with more confidence against another good football player when the ball is snapped and the pressure is on.

"He has all the ability. He has the toughness and intelligence. But there has to be that confidence. We are trying to instill that as hard as we can."

Free-agent wide receiver Terry Obee is not lacking in confidence or ability, and it shows.

"I'm not looking at Sunday's game as a situation where I have to make a big play to show them what I can do," said Obee. "I will just play hard and run my routes like I have been, and good things will happen."

Rookie defensive end Albert Fontenot from Baylor expresses similar confidence.

"This is just another opportunity to show that you can play," he said. "I am looking forward to it. It is not really like a practice, but it is not like it is a big thrill to be in an NFL game. It is just another football game. I am looking forward to playing this new defense. It is a free-for-all. It gives the guys up front a chance to make plays."

First-round pick Curtis Conway was homesick for his southern California roots when he reported to camp, but he now is thriving on thoughts of becoming the Bears' go-to receiver.

"It feels good," said Conway. "It is just like it was in college, where Johnny Morton and I were both go-to guys. We have some great receivers here, and I think any of us can make the play if they throw it to us."